TEXAS PESTICIDE APPLICATOR STUDY 2026
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What margin of safety ("safety factor") does the EPA use to set tolerances? -
✔✔100 times lower than the NOEL (No Observed Effect Level), which is the highest
dose in a dose-response study that does not cause an adverse effect that scientists can
observe. RfD (Reference Dose) is at least 100 times lower than the NOEL.
✔✔True or False: Food may have no residues at all because the residues may have
degraded or the crop may have been treated with a minimum dose of a pesticide. -
✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Soil and plant surfaces may contain pesticide residue even when they
are not directly sprayed with the pesticide. - ✔✔True
✔✔EPA sets two kinds of tolerances: ___ ___ tolerances for pesticides that indirectly
contact food; and tolerances for pesticides applied directly to food. - ✔✔Negligible
residue, Finite
✔✔"Pre-slaughter interval" or "pre-harvest interval" refers to the ___ ("least/most")
number of days allowed between the last pesticide application and the slaughter or
harvest day. - ✔✔Least
✔✔True or False: No pesticide may be bought, sold or used in the United States until it
has federal registration for the product, the use and the label. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Sometimes even small environmental changes can greatly reduce the
chances of survival for fish and wildlife. - ✔✔True
,✔✔When a pesticide evaporates and moves off target, this is called ___ ___. -
✔✔Vapor Drift
✔✔Do pollution and re-entry interval influence drift? - ✔✔No. It is influenced by Particle
size, Nozzle design and orientation, humidity, height of release, wind speed and
direction, and temperature.
✔✔Why should honeybees be protected? - ✔✔Their work as pollinators is necessary for
crop production.
✔✔True or False: Pesticide residues can build up in the bodies of animals, including
man. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Only pesticides that are applied incorrectly are likely to move
downward with rain or irrigation water into the water table below. - ✔✔False
✔✔True or False: A pesticide becomes a pollutant and potentially dangerous when it is
applied at a higher dose than recommended on the label or when it drifts off target. -
✔✔True
✔✔How should you change pressure to reduce liquid droplet drift? - ✔✔Reduce
pressure to increase droplet size
✔✔What are the possible consequences of pesticide drift onto forage and pastureland
or into drinking water? - ✔✔People, pets and livestock can be injured by pesticide
exposure; Pasture grasses could be destroyed; Milk or meat could have illegal residues
if cattle eat contaminated forage; Water may become too contaminated to drink.
✔✔True or False: Pesticide pollution can help a pest you are trying to to destroy by
killing predators and parasites of the pest. - ✔✔True
✔✔An ___ is a geologic formation of permeable rock, sand or gravel that stores large
amounts of water. - ✔✔Aquifer
✔✔Why are aquifers important? - ✔✔Because so many people use water from aquifers
for drinking
✔✔What is the name given to the complex prey/predator cycle in which all animals
(including humans) take part. - ✔✔Food Chain
✔✔The best protection against groundwater pollution is ___. - ✔✔Preventing
Contamination
, ✔✔At what level is man in the food chain? - ✔✔The Top
✔✔An ___ pesticide is one that builds up in animal and plant tissues. - ✔✔Accumulative
✔✔A ___ pesticide is one that remains in the environment without breaking down. -
✔✔Persistent
✔✔True or False: Even though persistent pesticides remain in the environment, they do
not always accumulate in animals or plants. - ✔✔True
✔✔An ___ ___ is a plant or animal that is near extinction throughout all or most of its
range. - ✔✔Endangered Species
✔✔Name 4 processes that cause a pesticide to break down after application. -
✔✔Photodegradation; Microbial degradation; Chemical degradation
✔✔Pesticides that degrade ___ in the environment are the least hazardous. -
✔✔Quickly
✔✔Name two reasons why pesticide accidents occur. - ✔✔Lack of up-to date
knowledge & Unsafe handling practices
✔✔If you or your partner feels sick on the job, should you leave the work undone or try
to finish it? - ✔✔Do not try and finish the job. Get out of the area immediately and get
help.
✔✔How should you clean your washing machine after laundering pesticide-soiled
clothing? - ✔✔Run a complete, but empty cycle using hot water and detergent.
✔✔True or False: The safest way to move pesticide is in the back of a truck that has a
steel bed with enclosed sides and a tailgate. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: You should wear a wide-brimmed, chemical-resistant, waterproof hat
(not a cap) when you are exposed to pesticide drift. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: You should store all clean protective equipment and clothing
separately from stored pesticides. - ✔✔True
✔✔When you plan to work with pesticides, where should you look for information about
the protective clothing you need? - ✔✔On the pesticide label
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What margin of safety ("safety factor") does the EPA use to set tolerances? -
✔✔100 times lower than the NOEL (No Observed Effect Level), which is the highest
dose in a dose-response study that does not cause an adverse effect that scientists can
observe. RfD (Reference Dose) is at least 100 times lower than the NOEL.
✔✔True or False: Food may have no residues at all because the residues may have
degraded or the crop may have been treated with a minimum dose of a pesticide. -
✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Soil and plant surfaces may contain pesticide residue even when they
are not directly sprayed with the pesticide. - ✔✔True
✔✔EPA sets two kinds of tolerances: ___ ___ tolerances for pesticides that indirectly
contact food; and tolerances for pesticides applied directly to food. - ✔✔Negligible
residue, Finite
✔✔"Pre-slaughter interval" or "pre-harvest interval" refers to the ___ ("least/most")
number of days allowed between the last pesticide application and the slaughter or
harvest day. - ✔✔Least
✔✔True or False: No pesticide may be bought, sold or used in the United States until it
has federal registration for the product, the use and the label. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Sometimes even small environmental changes can greatly reduce the
chances of survival for fish and wildlife. - ✔✔True
,✔✔When a pesticide evaporates and moves off target, this is called ___ ___. -
✔✔Vapor Drift
✔✔Do pollution and re-entry interval influence drift? - ✔✔No. It is influenced by Particle
size, Nozzle design and orientation, humidity, height of release, wind speed and
direction, and temperature.
✔✔Why should honeybees be protected? - ✔✔Their work as pollinators is necessary for
crop production.
✔✔True or False: Pesticide residues can build up in the bodies of animals, including
man. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: Only pesticides that are applied incorrectly are likely to move
downward with rain or irrigation water into the water table below. - ✔✔False
✔✔True or False: A pesticide becomes a pollutant and potentially dangerous when it is
applied at a higher dose than recommended on the label or when it drifts off target. -
✔✔True
✔✔How should you change pressure to reduce liquid droplet drift? - ✔✔Reduce
pressure to increase droplet size
✔✔What are the possible consequences of pesticide drift onto forage and pastureland
or into drinking water? - ✔✔People, pets and livestock can be injured by pesticide
exposure; Pasture grasses could be destroyed; Milk or meat could have illegal residues
if cattle eat contaminated forage; Water may become too contaminated to drink.
✔✔True or False: Pesticide pollution can help a pest you are trying to to destroy by
killing predators and parasites of the pest. - ✔✔True
✔✔An ___ is a geologic formation of permeable rock, sand or gravel that stores large
amounts of water. - ✔✔Aquifer
✔✔Why are aquifers important? - ✔✔Because so many people use water from aquifers
for drinking
✔✔What is the name given to the complex prey/predator cycle in which all animals
(including humans) take part. - ✔✔Food Chain
✔✔The best protection against groundwater pollution is ___. - ✔✔Preventing
Contamination
, ✔✔At what level is man in the food chain? - ✔✔The Top
✔✔An ___ pesticide is one that builds up in animal and plant tissues. - ✔✔Accumulative
✔✔A ___ pesticide is one that remains in the environment without breaking down. -
✔✔Persistent
✔✔True or False: Even though persistent pesticides remain in the environment, they do
not always accumulate in animals or plants. - ✔✔True
✔✔An ___ ___ is a plant or animal that is near extinction throughout all or most of its
range. - ✔✔Endangered Species
✔✔Name 4 processes that cause a pesticide to break down after application. -
✔✔Photodegradation; Microbial degradation; Chemical degradation
✔✔Pesticides that degrade ___ in the environment are the least hazardous. -
✔✔Quickly
✔✔Name two reasons why pesticide accidents occur. - ✔✔Lack of up-to date
knowledge & Unsafe handling practices
✔✔If you or your partner feels sick on the job, should you leave the work undone or try
to finish it? - ✔✔Do not try and finish the job. Get out of the area immediately and get
help.
✔✔How should you clean your washing machine after laundering pesticide-soiled
clothing? - ✔✔Run a complete, but empty cycle using hot water and detergent.
✔✔True or False: The safest way to move pesticide is in the back of a truck that has a
steel bed with enclosed sides and a tailgate. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: You should wear a wide-brimmed, chemical-resistant, waterproof hat
(not a cap) when you are exposed to pesticide drift. - ✔✔True
✔✔True or False: You should store all clean protective equipment and clothing
separately from stored pesticides. - ✔✔True
✔✔When you plan to work with pesticides, where should you look for information about
the protective clothing you need? - ✔✔On the pesticide label
